Eating tips for preschoolers

About food and preschoolers

Once children start kindergarten or school, life takes on a new routine. A regular intake of food is needed throughout the day to keep children active and help their concentration while learning.

Some children in this age group are still fussy, so offer a wide variety of foods and regular meals and snacks, and allow the child to eat according to their appetite without force or arguments.

Allow your child to eat according to their appetite

Children are able to decide how much food they need for activity and growth if allowed to eat according to their appetite. Forcing children to ‘clean the plate’ or giving sweets as rewards may lead to problems of overeating later in life.

Allow your child to decide how much food is enough. This shouldn’t cause problems for most children if a variety of healthy foods are consistently offered.

Offer a small serve first and give your child more if they are hungry. Meal sizes will vary, as the amount of food a child needs depends on what else has been eaten during the day.

Meals for kindergarten

Children continue to learn new skills and ideas about food when eating outside the home. They can be involved in preparing their lunch box and helping their carers make healthy lunches.

Preparing meals together is a great opportunity to give children positive messages about nutrition, such as ‘milk makes your bones strong’ or ‘bread gives you energy to play’. Suggestions for lunches include:

• mixed sandwich, fresh fruit and a tub of yogurt
• lean meat and salad in pita bread, with dried fruit and a carton of plain milk
• dairy foods and drinks can be frozen in hot weather and taken to kindergarten.

Healthy snacks for preschoolers

Snacks are an important part of a child’s food intake for energy and nutrients. What children eat is more important than when they eat.

Children who snack on lollies and chips may not get all the nutrients needed for good health. Healthy snack suggestions include:

• fresh and dried fruits, or fruit packed in natural juice
• yogurt or cheese
• fruit bread, bun or muffins
• bread, rice cakes or crackers with spread
• vegetable pieces and dip.

Treats are best kept for special occasions

By this age, children can eat independently and enjoy the social aspects of eating.

Having friends means eating out of home more. There may be an occasional meal at a fast food restaurant. They may go to a party with lots of sugary and fatty snacks. These things will do no harm as long as good nutrition is continued on most days.

Food is an important part of special occasions for everyone and should be enjoyed. However, high energy treats are best kept for special occasions and are not recommended for lunch boxes.

Strict diets aren’t recommended for children

Children grow at a steady rate during the kindergarten and early school years. Strict or low-fat diets are not recommended because children’s energy and nutrient needs are high. If you’re concerned about excessive weight gain, a good approach is to:

• Consult with your doctor.
• Develop healthy eating habits for the whole family.
• Encourage regular physical activities for everyone.
• Limit the time spent watching television and using screens.

Encourage physical activity for children

Children should be encouraged to be physically active from a young age.

Physical activity helps children feel good and promotes a healthy appetite. For this age group, 3 hours per day of active play spread out over the day is recommended and only one hour or less of screen time. While formal sports aren’t necessary for fitness, children can benefit from your encouragement and guidance. Suggestions include:

• Watch less television and have less screen time.
• Play games in the back garden or a local park.
• Go for a walk to the park or playground.
• Teach your child to swim.
• Participate in kindergarten and school activities.
• Be involved in regular, fun activities with your children.

Healthy drinks for children

Active children need plenty of fluids.

Around 3 glasses of milk a day provides enough calcium for bone development; water should be encouraged at other times.

Sweet drinks such as juice, soft drink or cordial are unnecessary in a child’s diet. Low-fat milk can be combined with fresh fruits for a smoothie as a great afternoon snack.

Food tips for growing children

General food tips for growing children include:

• Offer a variety of foods every day.
• Encourage healthy eating for everyone in the family.
• Let your child decide if they are full or hungry.
• Offer healthy snacks between meals.
• Involve children in meal preparation.
• Encourage water rather than sweet drinks.
• Enjoy family mealtimes and activities together.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Dietitians Australia Tel. 1800 812 942
• Maternal and child health nurse
• Maternal and Child Health Line (24 hours, 7 days) Tel. 13 22 29
• Parentline (24 hours, 7 days) Tel. 13 22 89
• The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne